Army Chemical Review presents professional information about Chemical Corps functions related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, smoke, flame, and civil support operations.
Issue link: https://chemical.epubxp.com/i/141522
News From the Personnel Development Offce T his new feature article keeps members of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps up to date on actions that will affect them and the future of the Corps. During the last quarter, the Personnel Development Offce (PDO) has been busy handling a number of actions in support of the Chemical Corps Regimental Campaign Plan as the Corps continues to move toward the future, maintaining its vital role in executing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) operations in support of the Army of 2020. Revision of the Warrant Offcer Program The PDO prepared a military occupational classifcation structure change and submitted it to the Offce of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1), Department of the Army (DA), in an attempt to better align the CBRN Warrant Offcer Program with Chief of Chemical guidance on the role and function of the CBRN warrant offcer. The intent of the revision is to make the best possible use of warrant offcer skills and training for the beneft of the Chemical Corps and the Army. The major change involves the conversion of all warrant offcer positions in feld artillery, air defense artillery, and military intelligence battalions to CBRN lieutenant positions and the transfer of the warrant offcer positions to CBRN companies. The feld artillery, air defense artillery, and military intelligence branches have agreed to the revision; and Army approval is anticipated June–July 2013. Implementation is expected to take place at the beginning of fscal year (FY) 2016. Revision of 74D Skilled Technical Score Requirements During the past 5 years, the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School (USACBRNS) has gradually implemented full-spectrum CBRN operations/response training according to Section 1910.120, Title 29 (Labor), Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR 1910.120),1 and national consensus standards related to National Fire Protection Association competencies. This training is critical in meeting the legal requirement defned in Section 1522, Title 50 (War and National Defense), U.S. Code (50 USC 1522),2 and in preparing military personnel to respond to CBRN incidents and safely operate in CBRN environments. Training requirements have been fully integrated into all CBRN courseware except for that of advanced individual training. The integration of the intellectual attributes and key skills required at the apprentice level began during the past three FYs. But despite a couple of pilot course attempts and variations in methods of instruction, the attrition rate for advanced individual training Soldiers continues to be too high. Analyses indicate that students' Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery skilled technical (ST) scores are directly related to course performance. Soldiers who had earned an ST score of less than 100 were typically unable to achieve passing grades on various tests associated with the national consensus standards. Statistical data collected from the two advanced individual training pilot courses indicate that Soldiers with ST scores below 100 were twice as likely to fail course tests as those who had ST scores above 100. In addition, beginning in FY 11, hazmat certifcation was piloted as a non-graduation requirement for the CBRN Advanced Leader's Course. Advanced Leader's Course data collected FY 11–FY 13 indicates that noncommissioned offcers who had an ST score below 100 failed hazmat certifcation at a higher rate than Soldiers who had ST scores of 100 or more. Hazmat technician level certifcation is slated to become a requirement for CBRN Advanced Leader's Course graduation beginning in FY 14. For these reasons, the PDO prepared a military occupational classifcation structure change and submitted it to the DA G-1 to increase the initial-entry Military Occupational Specialty 74D ST score requirement from 91 to 100. The new requirement will apply to all new enlistments, reclassifcations, and warrant offcer applicants. New Lieutenant Accessions As spring and summer approach, the PDO is heavily focused on disseminating accurate information about the Chemical Corps—and opportunities available within the Corps—to as many junior and senior U.S. Army Reserve Offcer Training Corps (ROTC) and U.S. Military Academy cadets as possible. The most effective way to do this is to have personnel speak directly to the cadets; however, that approach has been limited by the current fscal climate. Opportunities to personally interact with cadets will be available during the ROTC summer Leadership Development and Assessment Course (Warrior 62 Army Chemical Review